Ongoing Task-Based Feedback
After having the conversation reflecting on what went well and what are the areas for improvement that can be made for the next time.
Conversation Plus/Delta
A simple approach that solves many of the problems in accountability is called “Plus/Delta”. The approach is simple: when a team member completes a task, the manager gives them a Plus/Delta. The Plusses are things we want to appreciate and reinforce. While the Deltas are improvements we want to request and coach the team member towards.
+ Plusses (Did well)
Δ Deltas (Do Differently)
Example Plus/Delta
+ Plusses (Did well)
• The timeline and the resources needed are really well considered.
• The design and presentation of the document is top-notch.
The graphics in particular are really good and present the story well.
• The way you captured and included quotes about why some people
are excited feels compelling and real.
• I really like how you did the executive summary up front and
had specific requests for each manager.
• I didn’t realize you were so good at creating presentations and
would love to talk about how others can learn from this.
• I appreciate how you picked up this task in the midst of a busy cycle
and made efforts to include other people in how this was going to be presented. You really are showing up as a team player
Δ Deltas (Do Differently)
• Can you do more to understand the impact on other teams and
how you can get their buy-in?
• Simlify slides 9, 12, and 14 to make them easier to read (less text).
Use less text whenever possible.
• Do you have backup plans if things don’t go as planned?
• I’d like to make sure we have thought it through in advance,
especially if engineering delayed.
• I thought a draft was going to be completed last week. I needed it last week for a meeting and I’d like to understand what happened and be
kept informed when dates change in the future.
The Plus/Delta approach solves a lot of issues with feedback:
Being task-based, it immediate and specific. This is important because usually managers wait too long to provide feedback and aren’t specific enough in their comments.
The Plusses focus on what works and the T-chart above helps managers ensure there are enough positives compared to the negatives.
The Deltas helps manager turn complaints into forward-focused requests.
The key to remember is that the goal of giving feedback is to maintain the behaviors you like and improve the behaviors you would like to see changed.
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